There is much to learn from Barnsley

There are times in life when I feel like a minority of one!
Then there are those moments when you feel encouraged that sincere people are working hard for their communities.
This week I have had contact with Dan Jarvis MP, Michael Dugher MP, Councillor Steve Houghton and Tracey Cheetham.
They share something I do not - a belief in Politics as the means to solve Issues.
Interestingly though, we all share a caring spirit and in this we find friendship and respect. We all care about our Community.
In diversity we can still aim at good and perhaps in our small way help people to fulfil some aspirations.
Then there is Carol Cooper-Smith of Barnsley Development Agency who seeks to deal not only with the Economic struggles of Barnsley - but who also recognises the need to Improve the social needs caused by increasing unemployment which diminishes a persons self worth.
If that was not enough I visited Barnsley College today.
What a credit to the Town and their students.
There was a buzz of positivity and it made me think of that Barnsley Spirit that says" We had it tough before and we can see our way through this too".
History will record these as critical times.
Shake a bottle of full cream milk and the cream separates. Watch it closely though as it proves that the cream eventually comes to the top again!
Barnsley Folk are modest, doing little shouting or boasting.
Some may think this is weak but Barnsley is anything but weak.
Theres grit, determinaton and good humour.
No-one ignores the stark realities nationally or globally but in the end Barnsley realises it can never rely on the outside World for much.
Thats why we will provide the Entrepreneurs of the future, roll our sleeves up and use a strong work ethic to help ourselves....but never neglecting those in need.
Some maybe just see Barnsley as "That Town between Sheffield and Leeds" but quiet as we may be, something big is happening in our Town.